Tag: Joss Whedon

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Few television shows inspire as much loyalty from die-hard fans as Firefly, Joss Whedon’s 2002 science fiction-Western hybrid. Capitalizing on the demand for new stories after the 2005 feature film Serenity, Dark Horse Comics has published several limited series. Its latest, Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse #6, concludes with bang.

Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse #6

In addition, the book has nailed the feeling of the beloved – but short-lived TV show. There’s the Western-style dialogue (“We put up a good fight for a spell.”). And the occasional Chinese curses (“Bi zui!”). Georges Jeanty’s realistic artwork lets us revisit our favorites characters. Capt. Mal Reynolds, mercenary Jayne Cobb, psychic River Tam all make appearances.

The Battle Lines Have Been Drawn

The new book takes place after the events of the Serenity movie. No Power in the ‘Verse sets the stage for a new uprising against the evil Alliance and its band of all-powerful psychics. Reynolds and his crew are caught in the middle forced to rescue River and other friends. This is also all happening while trying to figure out who are their friends and their true enemies.

However, instead of neatly wrapping up the story, writer Chris Robertson sets the stage for the next as-of-yet unannounced next limited series. The battle lines have been drawn–both within Serenity crew and between the crew and the Alliance. And the next installment can’t come soon enough.

Browncoats, take note: Dark Horse’s new Serenity comics will finally answer the question, #WheresSerenity? It’s a query that has been on fans’ lips almost since the beginning: after Joss Whedon’s space western drama Firefly was canceled by Fox after only 11 of its 14 episodes aired, a small but extremely active fanbase — known as the Browncoats — took action and rallied to bring the show back.

Their efforts resulted in the 2005 feature film Serenity, which continued the exploits of Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds and the rag-tag crew of the Firefly-class transport ship Serenity, as they eluded the evil Alliance and struggled to survive by any means necessary — legal or illegal.

While there have been several Serenity comics since 2005, the upcoming Serenity: Leaves on the Wind adventure is the first post-Serenity miniseries featuring the entire surviving crew! Captained by Zack Whedon (Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale) with art by Georges Jeanty (Buffy Seasons 8 and 9), this six-issue miniseries is highly anticipated by thousands of fans.

Curious? We were, too! Fortunately, we were able to interview Zack Whedon and ask him how the crew is dealing with the aftermath of the events of Serenity — in which they lost several of their crewmates and exposed some of the dirty deeds of the Alliance — and what’s coming up next!

Read his responses below, and check out the covers to Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #1 and #2, as well as two interior pages from issue #1! You can pre-order the first issue of these new Serenity comics now to save 20%.

TFAW:Where is the crew of the Serenity when Leaves on the Wind begins?

Zack Whedon: They are hiding out in the middle of nowhere. They are in a place with no name, where no one would ever think to look, because they’re trying to stay missing. They’ve gotten themselves a lot of attention with what they did during the events of the movie Serenity, and they’re laying low.

TFAW:This is the first in-depth view we’ve seen of Mal and the gang since the movie. How have they changed?

ZW: I think they’re all still reeling from the loss of Wash and Book — that was a very traumatic experience for them all. They’re still dealing with that. River has reached a place of relative mental health, compared to how she was before the movie, so they’re happy about that, but nervous that it could go the other way at any moment. Zoe is dealing with the prospect of having a child whose father has been killed, so that’s tough on her. Even though they were successful in exposing the Alliance in Serenity [Editor’s note: the crew discovered that the Alliance had released an experimental drug on the planet Miranda, killing most of its inhabitants and spawning the savage, crazed Reavers], it puts them in a difficult position, so they’re feeling pinched by the Alliance.

ZW: Mal doesn’t ever really admit his concern to anyone, but their situation is dire, and he knows it. So he keeps a stoic façade with his crew, but he knows they’re in a desperate spot and need to make a move if they’re going to survive.

TFAW:What is the dynamic of the crew like, with the loss of Wash and Book?

ZW: It’s interesting. With Wash gone, there’s certainly less humor — not that there isn’t humor, but also there’s the fact that two of their friends met violent ends. It casts some gloom over their situation. So they’re not loving life at the moment. But it’s interesting, they’re all sort of dealing with different things, so even though they’re on the same ship, or most of them are, they’re living very different lives. Kaylee and Simon are still basking in the glow of new love, and Zoe is, as I mentioned, dealing with the prospect of having a child who doesn’t have a father. So everyone’s in a different place, even if they’re in the same location.

TFAW:So you mentioned Kaylee and Simon; will the potential romance between Mal and Inara be explored?

ZW: Yes. [laughs] I’d like the readers to know as little as possible going into the first issue. That question is answered very quickly.

TFAW:What other characters will we be seeing? Are there any new ones to introduce?

ZW: There is a new character, a young rebel activist named Bea, who gets hooked up with our crew. She’s sort of leading the Resistance — well, not leading them, but sort of spearheading their efforts to find Malcolm, because they think that he could be a great asset in terms of not only leading them, but in terms of being a figurehead for their movement. So she’s pursuing him for that reason, and she factors in in a big way.

And there’s some returning characters, some faces from the show and the movie. And then in terms of new characters, we made a couple of other Operatives. We meet them early on, but they play a larger part later. Their names are Denon and Kalista, and they are Operatives. Then, we’re also introducing an Alliance officer named Officer Rogers, who is also part of the pursuit of Serenity. So lots of bad guys, and one good guy.

TFAW:I can’t imagine Mal would really take to playing the savior role. How does he respond to Bea?

ZW: He’s not into it. You know, Mal is misunderstood by a lot of people, Bea included, and what she expects to find is not what she does find, when she meets him. The guy that she imagined is very different from the person that Mal actually is. He has no interest in playing that part for her.

TFAW:This is your second foray into writing Serenity comics, after The Shepherd’s Tale. [Editor’s note: Mea culpa! We temporarily forgot the magnificence of Whedon’s FCBD Serenity comic.] What are your favorite aspects of Firefly and Serenity?

ZW: I love the dynamics of the crew, and trying to recreate that. Everything is so off-kilter in the first issue of this new series, that you don’t really get to see them clicking together until later on. But I love recreating that. The show had such great chemistry between all these characters, and finding that again is fun.

And then, digging into the possibilities of the reaction to what they disclosed in Serenity. They dropped a big bomb with that revelation about Miranda and the Reavers and everything, so I’ve had a lot of fun with playing with how the world received that news.

TFAW:The fans of Firefly and Serenity are so enthusiastic, and so vocal! How do you deal with that kind of pressure?

ZW: Well, I’m not thinking about it. [laughs] I count myself as a fan, so I think that hopefully if I’m into the stories, that they will be too. You know, it’s very important to me to preserve the tone of the show and the movie, and of the universe, and to not stray from that. To create new stories that feel like ones you could have seen on the show. So I don’t think about it, except to get excited that there’s such a large audience waiting for it. That’s not usually the case, when you’re writing something.

So it’s exciting that there are a bunch of people who are enthusiastic about the universe, to pick up the comic on the first day and dig into it. I’m excited to share it with them. I’m really, really pleased with the first issue, I think it came out amazing.

ZW: I think this six-issue series will be it for me, at least for a long while. I just have a lot going on, and the process of writing comics is much slower and much more difficult for me than it is for some people. So I’m going to take a break, but my sincere hope is that they can get other great writers to keep it going, maybe in six-issue chunks or something like that. Georges is an amazing artist and has done an incredible job so far with the series, so I hope that if it does continue, it will continue with him. Because he’s doing an awesome job.

ZW: Right now I’m working on a television show for AMC, a show called Halt and Catch Fire, which is set in Dallas in 1983. It’s about a computer company that’s getting into the PC business. I’m on the staff there. It was created by Chris Rogers and Chris Cantwell. It’s an amazing pilot, and I’m very excited.

Our thanks to Zack Whedon for updating us on Serenity: Leaves on the Wind! Make sure to order these Serenity comics (and catch up on previous ones) here at TFAW — you’ll save 10-50%!

We’re back from San Diego Comic-Con 2012 and just a leetle tired. We want to thank everyone who came and visited us at booth #5625, as well as those who followed our coverage from home!

We had a blast, and it’s a pleasure to share our favorite moments with you. Below, you can find all of our SDCC videos in one convenient playlist. Check out our coverage of Preview Night, The Walking Dead, the Firefly 10th Anniversary panel, Joss Whedon, Felicia Day’s Geek & Sundry panel with Wil Wheaton, and more!

We’ve made it simple to share this video on Facebook and other social media outlets with the social networking buttons near the title. If you wouldn’t mind doing us a solid and sharing this video with your friends, we’d be eternally grateful. What were your favorite SDCC moments? Post your comments below!

Oh yeah! San Diego Comic-Con 2012 has been a blast, but we were excited beyond words to attend the Joss Whedon Dark Horse panel the other day. He talked about his plans for more Serenity/Firefly comics, his post-Avengers plans, and whether or not he’d be up for going back to TV.

Check out the video, below. Panels in SDCC’s famed Ballroom 20 are CRA-ZY! SPOILER ALERT! Our SDCC videos are complete and uncut, so watch at your own risk!

PS: Sorry that it took me a couple days to get this panel up. YouTube & iMovie were being super wonky together. Looks like 12th time trying to post was the charm.

We’ve made it simple to share this video on Facebook and other social media outlets with the social networking buttons near the title. If you wouldn’t mind sharing this video with your friends on FB, Twitter, etc. we’d be really grateful. Thanks!

The Firefly 10th Anniversary Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2012 was definitely one of the highlights of the show! Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Summer Glau, Adam Baldwin, Sean Maher, Jose Molina, and Tim Minear reunited for a hilarious, heartfelt panel that was a complete joy to experience!

We’ve made it simple to share this video on Facebook and other social media outlets with the social networking buttons near the title. If you wouldn’t mind doing us a solid and sharing this video with your friends, we’d be eternally grateful. What should we cover next at San Diego Comic-Con? Post your picks below and we’ll see what we can do!

In honor of Can’t Stop the Serenity, PDX Browncoats’ annual fundraiser for Equality Now, the Hollywood Things From Another World at 4133 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland, OR is throwing a huge Whedon sale August 19-21. Plus, when you check-in at Hollywood via Facebook Places on August 20 and redeem your Charity Deal, we’ll donate $1 to Equality Now on your behalf!

Our Whedon Sale will feature these excellent deals (and more):

$7-$14 Serenity TPBs and HCs – so shiny!

$20 Serenity Reaver Ornaments – the best Christmas decorations in the ‘Verse

Donate to Equality Now:

Equality Now, Joss Whedon’s preferred charity, fights to end violence and discrimination towards women and girls. On August 20, we’ll donate $1 toward this amazing organization for every check-in via Facebook Places at the Hollywood TFAW: just make sure to claim your “Charity Deal” when you check in. It’s a simple–almost effortless–way to make a difference.

Can’t Stop the Serenity Pre-Funk:

If it’s not on your calendar yet, make plans to go to Can’t Stop the Serenity at the Hollywood Theatre August 20 at 7:00 pm. They’ll be screening Serenity and Doctor Horrible, with special guest Patric Reynolds, the artist behind Serenity: Float Out! But first, stop by the Hollywood TFAW: beginning at 5:00 pm, we’re hosting a meet and greet with snacks and a costume contest run by the ever-creative PDX Browncoats.

Whew! That’s a lot of information about some pretty cool stuff. Hope to see you there!

I’ve gotten a lot of friends who’ve asked me for recommendations for comics they should read. Usually I go on a little fact-finding mission and pair them up with a book I think they’ll connect with. Lately though, I’ve been turning people on to omnibuses (or omnibusen, if you’re so inclined).

Why? Because they’re a great value and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Think about it: a $2.99 comic clocks in at 32 pages, and if my wizard-like math skills haven’t failed me, that’s about 10¢ a page. Depending on your reading abilities, you could be done with that issue pretty darn quick, only to return to your mundane existence 10 to 20 minutes later.

That’s where omnibuses come in to save the day. Clocking in at 350-530+ pages each–most are $25-$60–they’re well worth the price of admission. They’re perfect for me because I’m impatient. Don’t get me wrong, I love monthlies. They do a great job at giving you exactly what you need and keep you coming back month after month (as long as the art and writing are there), but they always leave me wanting.

There’s nothing quite like turning off your cell phone and curling up with a good omnibus. The closest comparison I have would be to equate it with a movie marathon. Ever watch the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or Lord of the Rings trilogies in one sitting? That’s what I’m talking about. You get to escape to another world for a good long time, leaving all of your cares and concerns behind.

Not knowing you, [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE], I’d have a hard time recommending an omnibus for you, but here are a few choice ones I’ve really enjoyed:

Hack/Slash Ommnibus Vols. 1-3–Tim Seeley’s book turns the typical slasher story on its head with Cassie Hack, the tough-as-nails young girl who hunts murderers, wackos, and monsters with her sweet sidekick, Vlad. Can’t go wrong!

Age of Reptiles Omnibus–Though there isn’t a single spoken word in this book, you feel yourself compelled to keep “reading” to see what happens to your favorite characters. The kid who loved dinosaurs in me is still very much alive, and this is a great book for kids of all ages. Super powerful. Warning, there is some death in the book, so use your discretion for younger readers.

Superman Doomsday Omnibus TPB–There isn’t much to say about this book that hasn’t been said. It’s just really nice to read through all 412 pages of the Doomsday saga in one sitting.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer omnibuses–Yes, I’m a dude who likes Buffy. That being said, Dark Horse’s BTVS comics have always been top notch, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you’re not a Buffy fan if you don’t have at least a few Buffy comics somewhere on a shelf (or standing upright in a polybag sleeve in a box in a dark, dry corner of your basement/spare room). These omnibuses are just too good to pass up, and don’t need to be read in order to be enjoyed.

B.P.R.D. Omnibus HC Vol. 1–The complete Plague of Frogs story is presented in all its glory. Many friends I’ve turned on to the Hellboy/B.P.R.D. universe tell me that they prefer the team dynamic in B.P.R.D. to Hellboy’s solo tales. This book is for those of you who’ve picked up a couple of Hellboy trades and are now looking for a good jumping-on point to to get into B.P.R.D..

Indiana Jones omnibuses–You can pretend that the fourth movie never came out and travel around the world with Indiana Jones as he hunts down relics and artifacts that belong in a museum!

Star Trek omnibuses–Boldly go with these awesome collections of exciting comics starring your favorite Trek characters. TOS was a great volume because it included Star Trek: Year Four.

Star Wars omnibuses–Hundreds of pages of Star Wars comics in each installment. What more could you ask for? What more do I need to tell you? Personal faves include Star Wars Omnibus: Menace Revealed, Star Wars Omnibus: Rise of the Sith, and Star Wars Omnibus: Quinlan Vos-Jedi in Darkness.

Good morning, Whedon fans: come meet the charming and talented Rebekah Isaacs, who will be the artist on Dark Horse Comics’ upcoming Angel & Faith series! I’ve personally loved her art since her work on Ms. Marvel during Dark Reign a couple of years ago (check out the image, below right) and I’m very excited to see what she brings to the Whedonverse.

Watch the video below to find out how she got the gig, and what she’s going to be focusing on for Angel & Faith!

As you may already know, Things From Another World, Dark Horse Comics, and PDX Browncoats are throwing an amazing Firefly screening/Serenity signing November 30 with Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale creators Zack Whedon and Chris Samnee! It all starts at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:15 p.m.) with a screening of the classic Firefly episode “Objects in Space,” followed by a Q & A with Zack and Chris.

Attendees of the event, which is also co-sponsored by Excalibur Comics & Books and Bridge City Comics, will be able to ask Whedon and Samnee questions after the episode. Admission to the event is one canned or nonperishable food item for the Oregon Food Bank.

If you don’t live in the Portland Metro area, you still have the chance to ask Zack and Chris a question! Here’s how:

Call TFAW.com 11/22-11/24 or 11/29 via Skype, between 9 and 3 pm PST, and tell us why you want to ask Zack/Chris a question. Due to an overwhelming demand, we are pre-screening questions in advance to avoid repetition

Log on to Skype from 7:30-8:30 p.m. PST on 11/30

DO NOT CALL IN

We will select contacts who are online at random and call them during the Q & A, so have your questions ready!

After the Q & A, festivities will move across the street to the Hollywood Things From Another World store for a signing with complimentary food and beer. Make sure to RSVP to the Firefly screening and Serenity signing on Facebook! Admission to the event is canned or nonperishable food for the Oregon Food Bank!

Remember, if you are participating via Skype, DO NOT CALL IN, as it will interrupt the event!

Are you coming to our awesome Serenity event? What questions do you want to ask? Post your comments below!

In celebration of the new original graphic novel Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale, Things From Another World and Dark Horse Comics are hosting an epic Firefly screening and Serenity signing Tuesday, November 30 with writer Zack Whedon (Terminator 1984) and artist Chris Samnee (Thor: The Mighty Avenger) in Portland, Oregon!

This event is also hosted in conjunction with local comic book shops Bridge City Comics and Excalibur Books & Comics. Special thanks go out to the Hollywood Theatre and Film Action Oregon for donating their space and time, and to the PDX Browncoats for their awesome support.

Fans are invited to the Hollywood Theatre at 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. at 6:30 pm to see a rare public showing of the classic Firefly episode “Objects in Space” on the big screen! Admission is a canned or nonperishable food item for the Oregon Food Bank.

After the screening there will be a Q & A with Zack Whedon and Chris Samnee. Interested parties can submit questions by posting them at Dark Horse Comics Facebook event page, visiting TFAW’s brick-and-mortar locations, or asking them at the event. Details regarding the Skype account for the live event are forthcoming.

Next, at 8:30 pm, festivities will move across the street to the Hollywood Things From Another World at 4133 NE Sandy Blvd. for a free, fun-filled signing with complimentary food and beer (with valid ID–no exceptions). Copies of Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale will be available for purchase.

“We know there’s a huge Serenity fanbase in Portland, and we’re excited to do this event with Zack, Chris, Dark Horse Comics, and our friends from Bridge City and Excalibur,” said TFAW Senior Director of Retail Operations Andrew McIntire. “Zack chose “Objects in Space” himself, and it’s going to be incredible to see it on the big screen. Also, we think fans around the world are going to enjoy submitting questions to the writer and artist of Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale.”

One of Serenity‘s greatest mysteries is finally revealed in Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale, filling in the life of one of the show’s most beloved characters–Shepherd Book! Hope to see you Tuesday, November 30 for this once-in-a-lifetime event.